1 Corinthians 10
Picking up where the sermon notes left off (see the posting Sunday Study dated 6/12/06), let's consider the next section of verses.
v. 14 - Note the word 'therefore'. Paul is turning his historical lesson in the first section to application, saying 'in light of that lesson, this is how we ought to respond' in given situations. The mention of idolatry, again, seems rather foreign to us in our cultural setting. Very few people are bowing to carved images in our experience. But, as we discussed Sunday, there is no shortage of 'altars' out there claiming our attention and affection that is rightly due God.
v. 15 - Paul believes the Corinthians to be 'sensible people'. Thus, the rhetorical questions that follow should be stirring arguments.
v. 16-17 - The questions in these verses seem to naturally progress to making the point that our (the believers in Corinth in his letter, and ours) participation in the Lord's Supper expresses a unity among believers in Christ. Communion is one thing that unites us with believers around the world of different color, creed and etc. All of us, no matter our station in life or cultural advantages must come before God by means of Christ's atoning sacrifice. An aside: this is one of the reasons that I like to serve Communion by allowing people to partake of the bread in their own timing before the Lord (symbolic of their individual relationship with Christ) and then asking everyone to hold the cup until all have been served, that we can all partake together (symbolic of our unity as the body of Christ).
v. 18-22 - Paul returns briefly to matters he covered (and so did we) in chapter 8. The point of the matter here, differing slightly from chapter 8's point, is that God is not indifferent to our manner of living before Him. This awareness, the weight of the historical lesson that precedes these verses in chapter 10, ought to balance our view of our liberties, as discussed in chapters 8 and 9.
v. 23 - As I mentioned when we came across similar wording in 6:12, these are among my favorite verses in 1 Corinthians. It appears that Paul was quoting a well known phrase of the day as he commended 'Everything is permissible' to them. Then he added two big 'buts' in qualifying the application of this proverb - NOT everything is beneficial for a believer in Christ to engage in; NOT everything is constructive to a life lived by faith. I really believe these are truths to take to heart in the daily application of our faith. It is true that our liberties are great. Our behavior will not damn us to hell. Nothing can snatch us out of God's hand (see Romans 8:38-39), nothing can separate us from His love. However, we ought to be growing in wisdom to the degree that we recognize those things that are allowable (or at least not eternally damning) are not always what we ought to do.
What do you think of these verses? Chime in.
v. 14 - Note the word 'therefore'. Paul is turning his historical lesson in the first section to application, saying 'in light of that lesson, this is how we ought to respond' in given situations. The mention of idolatry, again, seems rather foreign to us in our cultural setting. Very few people are bowing to carved images in our experience. But, as we discussed Sunday, there is no shortage of 'altars' out there claiming our attention and affection that is rightly due God.
v. 15 - Paul believes the Corinthians to be 'sensible people'. Thus, the rhetorical questions that follow should be stirring arguments.
v. 16-17 - The questions in these verses seem to naturally progress to making the point that our (the believers in Corinth in his letter, and ours) participation in the Lord's Supper expresses a unity among believers in Christ. Communion is one thing that unites us with believers around the world of different color, creed and etc. All of us, no matter our station in life or cultural advantages must come before God by means of Christ's atoning sacrifice. An aside: this is one of the reasons that I like to serve Communion by allowing people to partake of the bread in their own timing before the Lord (symbolic of their individual relationship with Christ) and then asking everyone to hold the cup until all have been served, that we can all partake together (symbolic of our unity as the body of Christ).
v. 18-22 - Paul returns briefly to matters he covered (and so did we) in chapter 8. The point of the matter here, differing slightly from chapter 8's point, is that God is not indifferent to our manner of living before Him. This awareness, the weight of the historical lesson that precedes these verses in chapter 10, ought to balance our view of our liberties, as discussed in chapters 8 and 9.
v. 23 - As I mentioned when we came across similar wording in 6:12, these are among my favorite verses in 1 Corinthians. It appears that Paul was quoting a well known phrase of the day as he commended 'Everything is permissible' to them. Then he added two big 'buts' in qualifying the application of this proverb - NOT everything is beneficial for a believer in Christ to engage in; NOT everything is constructive to a life lived by faith. I really believe these are truths to take to heart in the daily application of our faith. It is true that our liberties are great. Our behavior will not damn us to hell. Nothing can snatch us out of God's hand (see Romans 8:38-39), nothing can separate us from His love. However, we ought to be growing in wisdom to the degree that we recognize those things that are allowable (or at least not eternally damning) are not always what we ought to do.
What do you think of these verses? Chime in.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home